Daizen Maeda, born on 20 October 1997 in Japan, is a forward who primarily operates as a left winger, and holds a key spot in the Celtic squad, sporting the number 38 jersey. With solid, compact build, he stands at 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall and weighs 10st 9lb (68kg). On an international level, Maeda has represented Japan's national football team, proving his worth and talent.
According to Transfermarkt, Maeda is currently valued ate around £13m, attesting to his indispensable role in the Celtic roster. He started his professional career in January 2016 when he joined Matsumoto Yamaga, a club in the lower tier Japan Leagues. In his inaugural season there, Maeda made a commendable nine appearances in first team league matches, escalating to 18 appearances and two goals in 2019.
He was subsequently loaned to Mito Hollyhock in January 2017 in the J2 League in Japan. There, he made a total of 20 first team league match appearances and netted eight goals. By January 2018, his loan at Mito Hollyhock ended, marking his return to Matsumoto Yamaga where he continued to increase his first team appearances and even scored a couple of goals.
In July 2019, Maeda ventured abroad to Portugal, joining Marítimo in Liga Portugal 2 on loan from Matsumoto Yamaga. He made significant contributions to Marítimo, attaining 23 first team appearances and three league goals in the 2019 - 2020 season. By August 2020, he made a move back to Japan, this time to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League, for an undisclosed fee. Here, Maeda showed significant development, particularly in the 2021 season where he made an impressive 36 first team appearances and scored a whopping 23 league goals.
Maeda made the life-changing move to Scotland in January 2022, joining Celtic on loan initially. The Celtic fans took an immediate liking to him, and his performances justified their faith. He wore the Celtic jersey with pride, scoring noticeable goals and garnering essential first team appearances. By July 2022, his loan spell was made permanent with Celtic forking out approximately £1.4m to secure his services.
Maeda has so far enjoyed a successful stint at Celtic. From 2021 to the current 2025 - 2026 season, he has made a commendable number of appearances, scoring a considerable amount of goals, including one thus far in the ongoing season.
Besides his contribution to the league matches, Maeda has proved key in pivotal tournaments like the Champions League, League Cup, Scottish Cup and even the World Cup Qualifiers for Japan. It's safe to say Maeda remains an indispensable part of the Celtic squad, and his talent and hunger for goals assure his place in the football world.
